Giorgione's work largely determined the development of 16th-century Venetian painting. There are but a few generally accepted, non-controversial works from his hand and one of these is the Hermitage's Judith.

This biblical heroine, who saved her native city of Bethulia from attack by the Assyrians, was extremely popular during the Renaissance. Despite the historical subject, the painting is in fact what is known as a poesie, a type of work created by Giorgione himself and soon widespread in early 16th-century Venetian painting.